Watch an Amazing Simulation of the Pluto Flyby

The world was mesmerized when New Horizons sent back the first gorgeous images of Pluto's surface after the historic flyby on July 14, but unfortunately, NASA has not released a video. For all we know, there is no video footage of the closest approach. But now, we at least have a substitute, as Vimeo user Bjorn Jonsson has created an impressively seamless animation of the Pluto flyby, made from a compilation of New Horizons photos:

According to Jonsson, the video represents New Horizons's approach on July 14 from 9:35am to 1:35pm, with the closest approach (7,750 miles from the surface) occurring at approximately 11:50am. He also clarifies that he enhanced the illumination of Pluto's night side; while Pluto's moon Charon would provide some light, it generally wouldn't be visible.

The video almost looks like it could be a real video, as though we're seeing a sped up version of footage from a New Horizons camera. And between the now-iconic heart-shaped plain on the face of Pluto and the perfectly circular eclipse at the end, it looks like the introduction to a television show, as if the eclipse were about to become an "o" in "Heroes Reborn."

Jonsson also posted the first rotational video of Pluto shortly after the flyby: